Pests and Posadas

Beautiful Los Arcos at night...

Pests
It seemed like a normal night in Queretaro. Diane was sitting on the couch and I was working on my computer in the kitchen. Then, I heard a blood-curdling shriek from Diane, as though they she was being attacked.

Diane only screamed “Scorpion. Scorpion.”

She didn’t say where it was. Originally, I thought it was on her body.

She jumped over the insect, like Jesse Owens hurdling over a fire-breathing dragon. She must have jumped 5 feet over it. She ran to me, I jumped up from my computer (hitting my glasses on my eyelid, causing bleeding). For some reason, we both cowered in the laundry room in the back. Gavin picked up Rudy and retreated to the laundry room also.

Diane screamed, “Get it, get it.”

Scorpion in House

(I made the photo small not to freak people out. Feel free to make it larger..)

I told her I couldn’t because I couldn’t see it--my glasses were knocked to the floor. I kept asking where it was. She pointed to the middle of the floor. Remember, I was under the assumption it was on her.

When I got my glasses on, sure enough, there was a 1-2 inch bug which resembled a scorpion. In the middle of our living room. On our white tile floor.

Keep in mind--we had no idea what this bug would do--was it fast, did it spray venom, was it poisonous? Did it breathe fire? We had no idea!

All 3 of us had no idea what to do.

So, Diane ran out to our neighbors, Michelle and Alessandro--we figured they had lived in several other countries before and they would know more than us. Diane ran to them, and they immediately came over. They told us quickly they had never seen before this (not giving us much comfort), but told us to trap it with a cardboard box.

Diane then sought out our next door neighbor, Carlos, who works for Queretaro. He immediately asked us if we had alcohol. Diane and I looked at each other, and said “Sure, Tequila?” He said no, and ran to his apartment to get rubbing alcohol. He then ignited the bug. He told us that you burn it so it lets off a scream to the other scorpions not to come near. (Later, we found out that you also burn it because the bug might have had eggs, and smashing it would have spread the small eggs around the room).

I immediately took the cardboard and emptied our friend into the toilet. We cleaned the area with disinfectant and Michelle and Alessandro took Diane to the store to buy insect spray. We decided not to use it because it was not safe for pets inside. .

What did we learn from the internet about our "scorpion?"

1-When we told our friends in Mexico about the scorpion, some matter-of-factly said “Oh, yeah, we have those,” while others were shocked, saying “We’ve never seen one.”

2-Apparently, it was related to the scorpion, but an alacrane, which is very common in Mexico. According to my internet research, everyone--even the small ones --have venom, but usually will not kill, but just make you sick. There are hundreds of species but only a couple are dangerous. But a hospital visit will relieve the pain, if any. It may only be fatal to small children-under 2-and small pets (our dog!)

3-They live in dark places. So, every dark spot we saw for 2 weeks, Diane asked me if that was a scorpion. Now, we shake out our sheets and check our shoes.

4-This was just a fluke, we think. We hope. We do live next to a farm-with the rooster and chickens. And we heard all kinds of stories, like they fly through the air, they live in trees, etc.

5-Our house is in Southern California, where there are black widows, rattle snakes, possum, and the lethal brown recluse. I think all of these may be more lethal than anacranes.

Bottom line: be careful where you step.

Ponce at the Posada

Afterward, we were invited to a Posada, which is the Mexican tradition of opening up your house and/or restaurant to your neighbors. During Christmas, it is the “celebration” of Mary and Joseph looking for a place to give birth to Jesus Christ.  

Festivities during the Posada on our street

Inside our neighbors' houses, music abounds. 

The Posada was right outside our apartment, and, although we were still shaking from the alacrane incident--we went anyway. Beautiful, colorful banners were streamed across the street and fireworks and sparklers were given to everyone passing by.

 Festive for the Holidays

It was about 9 at night, but small children were still outside, twirling the sparklers and eating the food. It’s a charming idea--and very hospitable-to let people into your house and serve them ponche (a kind of apple cider filled with fruit, cinnamon sticks and sugar canes.)  

We met our neighbors who own the 2 taco and sopes stands across the street. Of course, they were serving tacos and other food (which I couldn’t identify) for free as part of the Mexican Posada. Just part of the Mexican hospitality.

It was quite a night in Mexico.